With the recent unveiling of the iPhone, the debate about gadgets and good looks has been resurrected among techies. We take a look at a few gadgets that pride themselves on being fashion accessories, as well as substantial devices, and see whether they measure up as both good looking and suitably techy.

Sennheiser HD 270 Control

Tech: The Sennheiser HD 270 Control headphones are designed for studio work, so there was never a doubt about them delivering when it came to listening to music. Our favorite feature has to be their insulation, which helps to block out almost all ambient noise.
Fashion: The HD 270 may sport a design that’s a little plain, but fashionistas have been raving over it nonetheless.
Balance: 75 percent tech; 25 percent fashion.
Details: $189. Pan Photo & Electronic
(#02-40/41 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd., 6733-1131).

Sony Ericsson HBH PV705 Style Edition

Tech: This Bluetooth headset’s got 12 hours of talk time and 300 hours of stand-by, so there’s nothing terribly out of the ordinary there. Its sound quality, however, is fantastic.
Fashion: Three different panels that allow you to customize its look and a cool neck strap so you can wear it as a fashion accessory makes the HBH PV705 a must for chic techies.
Balance: 25 percent tech; 75 percent fashion.
Details: The Sony Ericsson HBH PV705 Style Edition will be available sometime during the first quarter of 2007.

The Prada Phone by LG

Tech: Beating out Apple’s iPhone, the Prada Phone by LG is the world’s first completely touch screen mobile, but other than that, its features are fairly standard, so don’t expect discerning techies to be blown away.
Fashion: Boasting a minimalist design, with an 11.9mm body, the looks of this baby were never in question. Heck, this phone is so well designed that it’ll aesthetically appeal to tech and fashion lovers. Tai tais and metrosexuals will make a beeline for this one.
Balance: 35 percent tech; 65 percent fashion.
Details: The phone will only be on sale in Singapore in late Mar, but expect to pay at least a thousand bucks for this.

Nikon Coolpix S7c

Tech: The S7c from Nikon’s Coolpix series features a function that’ll help with camera shakes and even Wi-Fi capabilities. The sweetest feature, though, is the Pictmotion, which allows you to display a slideshow of your images along with a soundtrack.
Fashion: Sleek, small and curvaceous, the S7c is one of those cameras that people are dying to be seen with.
Balance: 51 percent tech; 49 percent fashion.
Details: $699. Aik Seng Photo (#01-29 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd., 6734-5771).

iPod Nano (Product) Red

Tech: The latest incarnation of the iPod Nano has phased out all the problems of its predecessors. It’s idiot-proof to use, and if you’re looking for a basic MP3 player, it’s one of the best in the market.
Fashion: It’s commonplace to see a Nano hanging around people’s necks these days. Plus, with every one of these purchased, Apple sends US$10 to the Global Fund, and what’s more attractive than helping out?
Balance: 51 percent tech; 49 percent fashion.
Details: $428 (8GB), $348 (4GB). Exclusively available at the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com.sg/store).

They’re one of the most influential hip-hop outfits of all time—and come this Feb, the Beastie Boys will be disrupting the whole scene in Singapore as part of the Good Vibrations Festival 2007. We waxed lyrical (well, almost) with the soft-spoken, but very friendly, Adam Horovitz (a.k.a. the King Ad-rock) about his influences, what to expect when they come to town and who gets the most attention from the ladies.

Till this day, the Beastie Boys are still known as innovators, not just in hip hop, but music in general. After all these years, how do you guys keep things fresh with every new album?
I have no idea! By not worrying about it, maybe.

So, do you guys have a plan when you head into the studio?
Unfortunately, we don’t. It’d be nice if we did though!

It’s become something of an in-joke among fans that you guys have a tendency to release your albums pretty slowly. Are these spaced out releases intentional?
I think that’s a well-known fact actually! Well, I mean, who wants to work, honestly? If you don’t have to, why would you? If you can, take your time—and why not, right? You can’t be mad at that. I mean, I’m just being honest.

So, when can we expect a new album from you guys?
Whew. Well, maybe 10, 15 years from now! Actually, we have one coming out in the next few months.

Many people would rank you guys up there with the likes of Public Enemy and Run DMC as one of the most influential hip hop outfits ever. But what were your biggest influences as an artist?
Wow. That’s a good question. I mean, where do I even begin? There’s just so many. Run DMC would definitely be in that list for so many reasons. Bad Brains, for sure. X-Ray Specs, The Specials, The Clash, Sugar Hill Gang. There’s so many. Miles Davis too.

What are the differences you’ve noticed in your fan base over the years?
There’s not that much difference, I’ve got to say. There are a lot of different types of people now and that’s nice.

On the flipside, how do you think the music industry as a whole has changed over the years?
Not that much either. The only real change has been with the Internet. I mean, business-wise, it’s changed because the record companies have to think of downloading. But that’s about it.

Your live shows are famously known for being mind-blowing events. What do you have planned for Singapore at the Good Vibrations Festival?
It’s hard to say. I can’t really talk too much about it because there’s going to be lots of surprises.

Enquiring minds want to know: Who gets the most attention from the women?
Well, we’re all married, but, yeah… me, obviously.

Would you be alright if we told fellow Beasties Mike D and MCA that you said that?
I would prefer it if you did!

Many filmmakers have been trying to get this film made for the longest time. Were you intimidated by the prospect of working on such a coveted project?
I think it is a responsibility if you pick up a film like that. It’s not just a bestseller, but also something that people have taken to heart. At points I was nervous, but I felt that if we kept this responsibility in mind, we would always know when we were losing the path.

Who were your influences as a director?
I guess my earliest references would’ve been King Kong, the old one. Not very original, I know, because many filmmakers claim it as their influence. I remember I was 10 or something and thinking, “There’s a craft that leads to this kind of results.” I admired that. I was hooked by that genre: Suspense and thriller. Not so much the fantasy, but the emotional involvement. I was completely amazed that you could be emotional involved with a giant ape!

How do you feel that your style has progressed since Run, Lola, Run?
I don’t know. You tell me! I guess it has, but I know it must be recognizable. That’s what we love in cinema; we visit voices we have relations with. To have a history with a filmmaker is something that lots of people admire. It’s like meeting a good old friend and listening to his new story. You always feel at home. Maybe, sometimes, you’re sent into an unknown room, but it’s always home.

Did you have any problems while filming the outrageous orgy scene towards the end of the movie?
No! It was easy! It is, of course, a challenging thing to do as a director. It took us weeks to prepare. I looked at it as an emotional choreography. We got assistance from a dance company in Spain. We went through thousands of castings because, strangely enough, a lot of bodies and faces looked too modern. We wanted all kinds of shapes of bodies and not trained health club bodies. These body types just didn’t exist back then. I think we had 5,000 people to choose from, and we ended up with 800. We all went together to a sports hall and worked with the choreographers. We made it clear (to the actors) that they were carrying the motion; that it was really about acting. That took several weekends and, slowly, they got more relaxed. Normally, for extras, you tell them to go left or right, and they won’t know what the f*** is going on! But these actors were really prepared because we treated them like actors.

See our review of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer here